Sunday, April 13, 2008

Before I start this portion of our program, let me just say a huge Mahalo/Arrigato/Gracias/Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments from Friday's HulaBula Momma post!! Warm fuzzies ALL over the place!!!And yes....I'm not one to 'blend in' very much, am I?!?!And honestly...I am lovin' the word vivacious!!! :-D

Hugs and smiles to you all!!!

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Pam asked: "What kind of basket is next to the Easter tree?"There are two baskets...one of them (with the dried rice and flowers) is one that one of my students made for me. She and her husband go hiking in the mountains and collect twine for making baskets...Isn't it great?!?!? The shape is so cool!!!The other one (the flatter one leaning up in the back)....the husband of one of my students made that....he took a plain, wicker basket that was falling apart and covered it with old Japanese paper...then painted it. If you look very closely, you can see the Japanese writing....isn't it wonderful?!?! I have a couple more things that he has made. I'll pass on the compliment!! Thanks!!Gina asked: "Now could you please explain how your school year is organized? "No problem...let's see if I can do this without having to check the calendar (which I am really not too sure exactly where it is...so....)School starts here in Japan, usually the second week in April. The first term is from then until summer holiday, which usually starts around the 20th or so of July. Summer holiday is NOT a time of doing nothing for students....everyone has pages and pages and pages of homework (usually Math and Japanese) and each student is encouraged to do some kind of project (art or science or whatever you choose). Junior High and High School students will also, more often than not, actually have special summer classes in the mornings for a few weeks.Second term starts the first of September and finishes around the 20th of December.Because the New Year here is such a big holiday, the third term won't start until the second week of January and then the end of the year is usually about the third week in March.Our "Spring holiday" is actually what "summer holiday" is like in the States....just much much much shorter!!!I worked for 5 years in a public school and 5 years in a private school and now with Issei in school, the American schedule seems a bit strange for me. A friend of mine teaches in L.A. in a "year-round-school" and he seems to prefer that to the traditional schedule.

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.3. At the end of the post, the player tags 5 people and posts their name, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.***

What I was doing 10 years ago:Ten years ago, I was on maternity-leave with an almost 2-month old with colic. I was spending the majority of my time sitting on the sofa with boob out/child attached. Sometimes I actually got dressed and went outside, that seemed to make both Issei and I much happier campers. I must admit that even though this was a really hard time in my life, I learned a lot about myself and mothering in the process....and that I could survive a stressful situation without some kind of alcoholic beverage!!!

Five Snacks I enjoy:In a perfect, non weight-gaining world1. Super Nachos with guacamole and lots and lots of cheese2. Chunk Monkey or Chubby Hubby Ice Cream (my hips are happy I can get neither here!!)3. Chocolate cookie dough (my roommates and I used to keep the slice and bake kind in our fridge)4. Pretty much anything dipped in Ranch Dip5. Potato Skins...the ones from the Hard Rock or Chilis are the best

Things I would do if I were a billionaire:1. Buy this house, because I really really really *heart* this house and the garden.2. Buy the K-man his Jeep and me my VW Beetle3. ALOHA HAWAII....see that nice house, on the beach with the beautiful garden and patio...that's ours!!!4. Buy tickets to Japan for all my friends!!!! 5. Buy season concert tickets ("on the front row") to Jimmy Buffett....for Trenda, Dena and Lila too...and anyone else who thinks they can keep up with us!!!Five jobs that I have had:1. K-Mart (camera and jewelry then toys....Employee of the Month one time, too!!)2. Waitress3. Flagger for a crop duster4. Drive-thru convenience store clerk5. Teacher

Three of my habits:1. Not being able to turn the computer "off"2. I have been known to *snort* sometimes when laughing really really hard3. Flirting....I just can't help myself...it's such a fun habit!!!

Five place I have lived: (This is easy)1. Springfield, Colorado2. Atlanta, Georgia3. Greeley....then Denver Colorado4. Weslaco, Texas5. Nagasaki Japan...for the past 16 years and 7 months

I'm also going to add a 6th one....my good friend, Susan, after faithfully ("love you"!!) reading my blog and lurking on others has decided to start her own, so I think this is a good chance to "jump into the blogging world" and start getting a "feel" as to how this all works!!!I would love to tag more people, but....let's just say that if you wanna do this, go ahead...but let me know if you do so I can come and read!!!!

I think the school year in Japan makes so much more sense than the one in the United States. Over the twelve weeks of summer, kids lose a good bit of what they had learned and the first month or two of the school year is spent bringing them back up to speed.

The Japanese school year makes a lot of sense and is very similar to the schedule we were on in CA.

Somehow it doesn't surprise me at all to find that you are a parrothead. I would definitely join you to see Jimmy and I know I can keep up! For my 39th birthday Bob gave me tickets for the tiki tour. We were in the front row right behind the speakers. I'm a little deaf in my right ear now but it was so worth it!

About Me

I am an American living in Nagasaki City, Japan. My days are spent teaching mainly oldER learners of English...the rest of the time, I 'm just trying to stay ahead of the game here as an expat. I have many hobbies and projects and two sons that keep me busy...everyday!!